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Draftees help Tar Heels into College World Series

Draftees help Tar Heels into College World Series

The Tarheels celebrate after earning the eighth and final College World Series berth on Tuesday.

By Paul Casella
/
MLB.com |

North Carolina punched its ticket to Omaha on Tuesday, claiming the last available spot for the College World Series.

In a makeup of Monday's rainout, UNC rallied past South Carolina with a three-run sixth inning then held on for a 5-4 victory to win the Chapel Hill super regional and clinch the final spot in the eight-team College World Series field.

The 67th edition of the College World Series will begin Saturday at 3 p.m. ET when Mississippi State clashes with Oregon State.

As for overall No. 1 seed North Carolina, the Tar Heels will open play at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday against in-state rival North Carolina State. The other four teams to qualify for the College World Series are Indiana, Louisville, UCLA and LSU.

North Carolina's looming rivalry game on Sunday was only possible, however, thanks to Tuesday's late rally. Trailing, 4-2, the Tar Heels cut the lead to one on a run-scoring triple by third baseman Colin Moran. Moran, the No. 6-ranked Draft prospect by MLB.com, was taken in exactly that spot -- No. 6 overall -- by the Marlins in last week's Draft.

Two batters later, Cody Stubbs -- an eighth-round pick by the Royals -- knotted the game at 4 with a sacrifice fly. North Carolina took the lead later that inning on a bases-loaded walk issued by Adam Westmoreland -- a 26th-round pick by the Marlins -- and never looked back.

Clinging to a one-run lead with a runner on first and one out in the top of the ninth, the Tar Heels called on left-hander Kent Emanuel for the final two outs. Emanuel, the No. 69-ranked Draft prospect and third-round pick of the Astros, retired the only two batters he faced to seal the victory and UNC's ticket to Omaha.

South Carolina's Tyler Webb, drafted by the Yankees in the 10th round, tossed 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to close out the loss, allowing just one hit in the process.

The following are the matchups slated for the first two days of the College World Series with the finals set for June 24-26.